Electric-motor car



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

510 Model.)

W ROBINSON ELECTRIC MOTOR OAR.

Nq. 436,743.. Patented Sept. 16, 1890,.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. ROBINSON. ELECTRIC MOTOR OAR.

No. 436,743. Patented Sept. 16. 1890.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

W. ROBINSON. ELECTRIC MOTOR GAR. No. 436,743. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

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WITNESSES: NVENTURH mw/mw UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ROBINSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROB- INSON RADIAL CAR TRUCK COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

ELECTRIC-MOTOR CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,743, dated September 16, 1890. Original application filed April 12, 1889, Serial No. 307,041. Divided and this application filed February 19, 1890. Serial No.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Motor Cars, of which the followingis a specification.

This case is Division D of my application for a patent for an improvement in electricio motor cars, filed April 12, 1889, Serial No.

The object of my invention is to construct a motor-car having axles adapted to take a radial position on curves, and to adapt and I 5 combine the electric motors with the radiating apparatus in a simple and practical manner, whereby cars with a long wheel-base may run around very sharp curves with the greatest ease, with economy of power, and without danger of leaving the track.

My invention also makes it possible to construct much longer cars than is at present feasible for electric-motor propulsion, to run them with great steadiness of motion, and to attain very high rates of speed with perfect safety and economy.

The nature of myinvention will be clearly understood from the description which follows, reference being had to the accompanyo ing drawings, which form apart of this speci:

fication, in which Figure 1 isabottom plan view of a railwaycar on a curved track illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

partly in section, with the face-wheels removed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the axle a, showing the relation thereto of the motor-supporting connections. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the opposite end of the motor-supporting bar and connections, a portion of one side being removed to show the relative position of the flexible joint of the bars cf. Fig. 4 is an end elevation illustrating part of the mechanism for suspending the motor flexibly from the axles. Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations illustrating modifications in the method of suspending the motors flexibly. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section showing the swiveling bearing of the car-frame on the axle-frame. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section showing the mechanism for connecting the adjacent axle-frames adj ustably together. Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged views showing the means of supporting one end of the motor flexibly on springs; and Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are detail views showing the bearings between the corners or sides of the axle-frames and the car-frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

A is a car-frame provided with the swiveling axle-frames B B. The axle-frame B is provided with the wheels at and the axle a connecting the same, and the axle-frame B with the wheels I) and the axle 1), connecting said wheels in the usual manner.

The axle-frame B is pivoted to the car-frame at the point 0, between the center of the axle a and the center of said car-frame, and the axle-frame B is similarly pivoted to the carframe at the point 0, between the center of the axle b and the center of said car-frame.

O is an axle-frame located between the axleframes B and B and adapted to slide bodily transversely relatively to said car-frame A. Said frame 0 is provided with the wheels (Z and their connecting-axle d.

The axles a b d are flexibly connected to their respective frames B B O by means of the pedestals 7.; 70' 7c" and the springsl Z l.

Thesliding frame O is provided with rigid projections or brackets c e on its opposite sides, and the frames B B, respectively, are provided with corresponding projections or. brackets f f. The brackets e fare pivoted together adjustably, as shown at g, and the brackets e f are similarly pivoted together, as shown at g.

The operation is as follows: When the moving car reaches a curved track the impinging of the flanges of one of the intermediate wheels d against one of the rails of the curved track causes said wheels and the axle d, together with the intermediate frame 0, to move transversely relatively to the car-frame A. 5 This transverse movement of the frame 0, with its brackets e c, carries the brackets ff of the frames 13 B to one side of the longi:

tudinal center-line of the car-frame A, thus causing said frames 13 B to swivel on their respective axes c and 0, whereby the axles a b are caused to take radial positions on curves, as shown in Fig. 1. The intermediate axle d being at the center of the car-frame is of course always radial to any curve upon which the car may enter without any swivelling movement in the frame 0.

I prefer to swivel the axle-frames I3 B at points between the centers of the axles a I), respectively, and the center of the car-frame. By this arrangement the pivot 0 becomes a fulcrum around which the Wheels a and axle a, with the frame 13, swing as a lever, the impinging of the flange of the outer wheel a against the outer rail of the track when a curve is reached giving the initial impetus of such swiveling movement. The same operation takes place in connection with the wheels I), axle b, and frame 13.

It will be observed that the greater the distance the pivots c c are from the axles a b the greater will the swiveling leverage be and the more easily, therefore, will the swiveling movement of said axles take place; also, the greater the distance of said swiveling-points from said axles the less will be the lateral movement required of the sliding frame 0 to bring the swiveling axles into a true radial position on curves. Furthermore, by placing the pivotal point e a short distance from the axle a, as shown, and the pivotal point g of the adjacent axle-frames midway, or nearly so, between said pivotal point 0 and the intermediate axle dthat is, the center of the carframeall slack and lost motion are taken upeand the axles brought in a practical manner into an exactly radial position on curves.

WVhen the axles assume radial positions on curves, as shown in Fig. 1, the pivotal point g is thrown to one side of the longitudinal center-line of the car-frame, and the brackets e f and e f slide upon and become elongated relatively to each other. To provide, therefore, for the free relative elongation and contraction of said brackets, I provide the bracket 6 (see Fig. 8) with the longitudinal slot h, in which is placed the sliding friction-block 72., through which and the jaws i of the bracket f passes the pivotal bolt g. Thus flexible movement of the brackets e f, relatively to each other is provided for without lost motion or undue wear of the parts moving on each other. The brackets e f are flexibly connected together in the same manner as the brackets e f, just described.

The swiveling axle-frames B 13 are provided with the central swiveling bearing shown in Fig. 7, in which the plate m, provided with the socket m, is secured to the axle-- frame, and the car-frame is provided with the bearing-plate a secured thereto. Said plate 'n is provided with the projection n, fitting into the socket m, and swiveling therein. The bolt 0, passing through the plat-es n m, prevents the possibility of said swiveling plates separating from each other by a sudden jar or otherwise.

The plate on is provided with the recess 0 for the reception of grease or oil, which may be poured into said recess through the orifice 0' in the upper plate at, for the purpose of lubricating the frictional surfaces of said plates. The channel 19 leads from the recess 0 to the socket m to allow a portion of the oil or grease to pass gradually into said socket, where it is retained bythe recess p at the bottom of said socket m. The orifice 0 is protected from dust by the plate q. Thus the bearing-plates m n are kept continuously lubricated in a simple and effective manner.

The sides or corners of the axle-frames are provided with roller-bearings, which I prefer to make as shown in Figs. 5, 11, 12, and 13, in which the rollers r, secured to the axleframes, are grooved, and the hearing or track r secured to the car-frame A, rests upon said rollers and fits into the grooves of the same. The grooved roller-bearings, together with the socketed central bearings, it will be observed, allow ease of movement between the axle-frames an d the car-frame A without lost motion.

In Fig. 11,-and some other figures, the roller 7 is provided with a groove semicircular in cross-section. In Fig. 12 the groove is angular, while in Figs. 1 and 2 the roller 4' has its periphery convex in cross-section. In the latter case the roller '2' travels in a grooved track 1''. The bars 8 25 extend across and above the axle-frames B B and are secured thereto. Between or upon said bars the swiveling bearing-plate m is secured. Said bars stare preferably made of iron or steel platesplaced edge upward for strength. At or near the ends said plates are bent downward and secured to the axle-frame by the bolts it. Thus space is left under said bars for the motor to rise above thelevel of the surrounding wheelframe, all as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and more fully described hereinafter. The bars strise between the intermediate sillsv of the earframe A,thus economizing space, and also for the purpose of economizing space the bearing-plate n is secured to the car-frame at or near the upper surface of said sills.

In order that the intermediate wheels 01 may have extreme lateral movement without'raising the car-body unduly, the side sills o are cut away or arched upward at the middle, and the disconnected or arched parts are connected and re-enforced by the vertical arching-plates wone on each side of the sillsaid plates being firmly bolted to the sides of said sill, as shown. Thus the central wheel is per.- mitted to move under said arch while all the normal strength of said sill is retained.

It will be observed that when the car passes from a curved to a straight track the impinging of the flanges of the wheels on the rails causes all the axles and Wheel-frames to assume their normal position and all the axles on the car to become parallel to each other.

Thus the axles become radial on curves and parallel on straight lines, and only on straight lines.

The axles a Z) d are provided, respectively, with the motors a b (P. Each of said motors has one end supported by its axle, as shown. Fig. 4c clearly shows the motor a as having one end supported on the axle a by the sleeves c in any usual or suitable manner. The opposite ends of the motors are supported flexibly in a peculiarmanner, as follows: The bar or frame 6 formed of one or more pieces, is secured adj ustably on the motor-sleeves 0 as shown at f whereby the motor and said bar are adjustable somewhat relatively to each other in a vertical plane. Rigidly secured to the bar 6 or forming a part thereof, is the horizontal bar extending, preferably, above the axle-frame B to or beyond the connecting-point g of the adjacent axle-frames. The lower end of the bar or frame 6 terminates in the swiveling point or bearing 7L2, which is in avertical line with the swiveling-point c of the axleframe on the car-body. The axle I) is provided with a similar bar e horizontal bar g and swiveling point or bearing lb The bars 6 c are connected by the horizontal bar 1' and swivel on said bar 1' at the points 71 715, as shown. From the free or inner end of the bar g is suspended, by the bracket the free end 10 of the motor a as shown at T and from the free or inner end of the corresponding bar 9 are suspended, by the brackets m 41 the free ends 1 m of the motors d 12 as shown. The bracket Z is rigidly secured to the back end of the intermediate motor (Z and has its free end supported by the end of bar 9 The springs 0 19 g are placed around the supporting-rod 8 which is supported at r from the bar g as shown, whereby the motors a d are flexibly supported from said bar g by said springs. In a similar manner the ends Z m of the motors d b are supported flexibly by the springs 10 v 10 said springs in turn being supported by the bar It will be observed that the motor-sleeves c are adapted to turn adj ustably within that part of the bar 6 surrounding said sleeves. Consequently the free end 10 of the motor is free to move up and down adjustably relatively to the supporting-bar 9 The bar 6 would operate as well if sleeved directly to the axle;

but this would involve the additional and unnecessary friction and expense of additional journal-boxes. I therefore prefer to support said bar 6 on the motor-sleeves 0 as described. The bar 2' engaging the lower ends of the bars 6 6 keeps the bars g g in ahorizontal position, notwithstanding the fact that a large proportion of the weight of the motors is supported by said last-named bars. The adjacent motors a (1 however, practically support and balance each other flexibly through their respective brackets 7c Z and the springs 0 19 as shown. Furthermore, the intermediate motor (Z becomes to a large extent an equalizer between the other two motors. When the intermediate motor (Z is omitted then the bracket Z supported by the axle (1, extends therefrom in both directions, terminating on one side in the bracket m that is, the bracket Z extended becomes a perfect equalizer, supporting the motors a 6 equally, thus relieving the weight on the bars g 9 and distributing such weight as remains equally between said bars.

The supporting-rod .9 passes through the spring-seats a 12 which support the bracket Z (See Figs. 9 and 10.) The bracket Z is provided with the slot 0 through which the stems of the spring-seats a 12 pass and meet without pressing tight upon the upper and lower surfaces of the bracket Z. Thus said bracket Z is adapted to move back and forth with entire freedom relatively to said springseats.

The bearing and operation of the bracket m on its spring-seats are the same as that of the bracket 1, just described, on its springseats.

The rod 3 connects adjustably the motors a d in the same vertical line with the bolt or pin which adjustably connects the axleframes B C, and in like manner the rod 3 connects adj ustably the motors d b in the same vertical line with the bolt or pin g, which adj ustably connects the axle-frames O B.

WVhen the car enters upon a curve the normal position of the motors relatively to each other is changed. Thus the intermediate motor d is carried bodily with the axle d in a transverse direction relatively to the carframe A, while the motors a b swivel in a horizontal plane on the same vertical axes .around which their respective axles a b swivel. At the same time the brackets. k Z and m n elongate relatively to each other in taking the relative angular position, all as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that in the method of operation above described the motors are wholly supported by the axles-a great desideratnm, since by this arrangement vibrations from the motors are not conveyed to the car-body-- and it is only necessary to make the carsprings heavy enough to carry the car-body with its load of passengers without supporting any of the weight of the motors. Thus my invention makes my motor-car a much easier riding vehicle than the motor-cars heretofore used.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications in the method of flexibly supporting the motors. In Figs. 5, as will be seen byinspection, the free ends of the motors are suspended by springs from their respective axle-frames, while in Fig. 6 the mode of suspension is similar, but the lines of suspension coincide with the flexible joints g and g. In both of these cases, it will be observed, the motors partly support and balance each other, as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

An inspection of Fig. 2 will show that the axle-frames have an open space within their periphery large enough for the motor to move adjustably within and above or below said frames during the relative vertical movement of said motors and the oar-frame. For this reason I raise the bearing-bars s 1? above the upper surface of said axle-frames, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. This arrangement also allows room for brake-rods and other gearing above the motors.

It is obvious that the invention herein described is equally applicable to six-Wheeled trucks for coaches having two trucks and to cars having only six wheels in all. The term oar frame, therefore, herein used, must be be construed, for the purposes of this invention, as equivalent to the term truck-frame or main truck-frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a motor car or truck, the combination, substantially as described, of two drivingaxles with their wheels and two motors, one arranged to turn each of said axles with its wheels, said motors with their respective axles being movable relatively to each other in a horizontal plane.

2. In a motor car or truck, the combination, substantially as described, of two drivingaxles swiveling around vertical axes, an intermediate axle movable transversely relatively to the car or truck frame, the transverse movement of said intermediate axle causing swiveling movement in said swiveling axles, and three motors, each axle being provided with one motor arranged to drive said axle with its wheels, said motors with their respective axles being movable relatively to each other in a horizontal plane.

3. In a motor car or truck, the combination, substantially as described, of the main frame, one or more driving-axles swinging or swiveling around a vertical axis, one or more motors arranged to drive said axles, and a transversely-moving axle, the transverse movement of the same causing a swiveling movement in said driving axle or axles with their motors.

at. In a motor car or truck, the combination,

substantially as described, of the main frame, v

two swiveling driving-axles, motors arranged to drive said axles, and a transversely-moving axle located between said swiveling axles, said transverselymoving axle affording a flexible support for the inner ends of said motors.

WILLIAM ROBINSON. Witnesses:

HENRY 0. WHITE, GEO. A. FREEMAN. 

